It has emerged that Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland (DoE NI) officials were warned three years ago that a private development at the Giant's Causeway could overwhelm the local sewerage system. Environment Minister Arlene Foster revealed that the issue was highlighted by the Environment and Heritage Service (EHS) as far back as 2004, and the problem was confirmed this month by Northern Ireland Water (NIW), the Government-owned water and sewerage company.
Mrs Foster wrote to inform Sinn Fein Minister Daithi McKay that, "In 2004, the water management unit of the EHS examined the environmental statement in support of the application. In its response to the Planning Service, the EHS stated that the water treatment works at the Giant's Causeway was already overloaded and would not have the capacity to deal with the flows arising from the development. In addition, the wastewater treatment works at Bushmills might not have sufficient hydraulic capacity to deal with the volumes of water from the development."
Last month Mrs Foster announced she was considering granting a planning application for north Antrim developer Seymour Sweeney's proposed visitors' centre at the world heritage site. Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister Nigel Dodds also suspended a publicly-funded alternative, arguing it would save over £21 million of public money. NIW has suggested it would be December 2010 before sufficient capacity is in place as part of a £9 million plan to upgrade the nearby Bushmills' treatment works. A spokesperson confirmed, "The Department for Regional Development Water Service advised in 2002 that the public sewerage system in the area has negative capacity. It is intended in the future that the sewerage network from the Causeway area will be extended to Bushmills Wastewater Treatment Works."
